20
May
2015
Coal Valley, IL - May 18, 2015 - Niabi Zoo announced today the birth of five red wolf pups on April 14, 2015. Two males and three females were born, with one male not surviving long after birth. The pups were born to 7 year old female Kai and 10 year old male Paco. This is Paco's first litter and Kai's fourth.
The four surviving pups, one male and three females, are the first ever litter of red wolves to be born at Niabi Zoo.
"We are beyond thrilled to be able to announce these births," said Zoo Director Marc Heinzman. "There are only a few hundred red wolves left in the entire world, so to have four new ones be born and thriving right here in the Quad Cities is an amazing privilege. If it wasn't for the captive breeding program started at the zoo in Tacoma, Washington, in the 1970s, this animal would be extinct. We're honored to be able to play a part in its continued recovery." The pups, which ranged in size from 540 grams to 839 grams a week after birth, have been developing well since birth according to Heinzman. "Wolf pups usually aren't moving around outside of their den much until about six weeks of age, but these ones are ahead of schedule."
The wolf pups have not been named, but Zoo staff is considering options for doing so. "We now have four new adorable pups that will need names, so we will be considering how we want to name them in the near future," said Heinzman. The pups will be viewable to Zoo visitors on an intermittent basis as they move in and out of their den. "At this age, they are splitting their time between napping in their underground den and playing outside, so it will be a real treat to catch a glimpse of them," said Heinzman.
Red wolves, Canis rufus, are a nearly extinct species of wolf native to the Southeastern United States. Red wolves typically measure between 53 and 63 inches in length and weigh between 40 and 90 pounds. They are carnivores, typically preying on small and medium-sized mammals in the wild.
The four surviving pups, one male and three females, are the first ever litter of red wolves to be born at Niabi Zoo.
"We are beyond thrilled to be able to announce these births," said Zoo Director Marc Heinzman. "There are only a few hundred red wolves left in the entire world, so to have four new ones be born and thriving right here in the Quad Cities is an amazing privilege. If it wasn't for the captive breeding program started at the zoo in Tacoma, Washington, in the 1970s, this animal would be extinct. We're honored to be able to play a part in its continued recovery." The pups, which ranged in size from 540 grams to 839 grams a week after birth, have been developing well since birth according to Heinzman. "Wolf pups usually aren't moving around outside of their den much until about six weeks of age, but these ones are ahead of schedule."
The wolf pups have not been named, but Zoo staff is considering options for doing so. "We now have four new adorable pups that will need names, so we will be considering how we want to name them in the near future," said Heinzman. The pups will be viewable to Zoo visitors on an intermittent basis as they move in and out of their den. "At this age, they are splitting their time between napping in their underground den and playing outside, so it will be a real treat to catch a glimpse of them," said Heinzman.
Red wolves, Canis rufus, are a nearly extinct species of wolf native to the Southeastern United States. Red wolves typically measure between 53 and 63 inches in length and weigh between 40 and 90 pounds. They are carnivores, typically preying on small and medium-sized mammals in the wild.
